Renton dog park opens with a bark

About 200 dog lovers celebrated the grand opening of the Cedar River Off-leash Dog Park with a "leash cutting" ceremony Sept. 19.

Renton's Unleashed Furry Friends (RUFF) surprised city officials when it raised the necessary money and completed the project in only a year and a half.

"The enthusiasm and the dedication from the volunteers in the community was over the top," said Kris Stimpson, a Renton Parks and Recreation manager. "A lot of cities take four years."

City Council members enjoyed cake with volunteers while dogs enjoyed biscuits and playtime.

RUFF received a plaque from Renton Mayor Denis Law, and acknowledged the original task force members.

The park has been open since early July, but finishing touches, such as an information kiosk and benches, didn't come until later this summer.

"There is talk about adding another gate that is accessible from the northeast corner," Stimpson said of future plans.

So far, the non-profit organization has raised about $46,000 of its $50,000 goal, with about 175 people donating money and in-kind services.

The City of Renton owns the land, which is still "master planned" for soccer fields, Stimpson said.

"Technically, this is a temporary use for a minimum of two years," she said. "We'll evaluate how the dog park is doing and go from there."

Meanwhile, RUFF's contact list grows past 300 as dog owners enjoy having a safe place to exercise their pets.

"The volunteers put a lot of hard work into it," Stimpson said.

The park is located along the Cedar River Trail, just south of the Renton Community Center.

For more information visit www.rentonoffleash.org.

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Contact Renton Reporter Staff Writer Celeste Gracey at cgracey@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.

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